Nielsen Lake near Scandia: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Nielsen Lake is a Washington County water, Minnesota side. Elevation runs to 919 feet. With some 41 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The full circuit measures close to 1.0 miles on foot. It lies lower than most water we list in Minnesota. Scandia is the closest town at 3.9 miles. Further out sit Forest Lake (5.5 miles) and Chisago City (6.3 miles). This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Nielsen Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Species logged across Washington County include bluegill, largemouth bass, brown trout and northern pike. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Treat Nielsen Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 71°F; the cold one sits at 11°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early April. From about early April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. That shapes the year on Nielsen Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Bone Lake sits 0.7 miles off and takes the overflow. None of that is settled for Nielsen Lake in what we hold.